Bemidji man charged with criminal sexual conduct

Joshua Riley Malone has been charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct against a victim who was mentally impaired or rendered helpless. He faces up to 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine.

Malone is a member of the BSU football team. He hosted a party at his residence on the 600 block of 19th Street NW in Bemidji on Feb. 21, according to court documents. Malone’s residence is not on the BSU campus. A woman and her friends attended the party and played drinking games. She became intoxicated and a friend placed her on a couch where she passed out, documents stated.

In a statement to Bemidji police, Malone confirmed that he had a party at his house and reported he carried a drunk woman to his room to take care of her. The two had sex, however Malone indicated that the victim was not unconscious when he had sex with her, according to court documents.

Malone was originally arrested on Monday for first-degree criminal sexual conduct. He is currently incarcerated in the Beltrami County Jail. A future court date was not available Wednesday.

Malone has been suspended from the football team, pending the outcome of the investigation, BSU officials said.

Crystal Dey covers crime, courts, tribal relations and social issues for The Bemidji Pioneer in Bemidji, Minnesota. Originally from Minnesota’s Iron Range, Dey has worked for the Echo Press in Alexandria, Minnesota, The Forum in Fargo, North Dakota, The Tampa Tribune in Tampa, Florida, the Hartford Courant in Hartford and West Hartford News in West Hartford, Connecticut. Dey studied Mass Communications at Minnesota State University Moorhead with an emphasis in Online Journalism. Follow Crystal Dey on Twitter @Crystal_Dey.